Additives and Methods for Reducing Hexavalent Chromium in Cement

1. A method for reducing hexavalent chromium in Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said method consisting essentially of adding an antimony(III) compound as reducing agent to said Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said antimony(III) compound being added in water, and said antimony(III) compound being selected from the group consisting essentially of an antimony(III) oxide, an antimony(III) inorganic salt, an antimony(III) chelate compound, and an antimony(III) organometallic compound.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the antimony(III) inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of chloride, fluoride, carbonate, sulphate, hydroxide, sulphite, thiosulphate, nitrate, nitrite, thiocyanate, formiate, bromide, iodide, acetate, and phosphate salt.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the antimony(III) compound is the antimony(III) chelate compound wherein chelation is obtained with an inorganic or organic ligand selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, sulphide, carbonate, hydroxide, tartrate, ossalate, citrate, lactate, glycolate, acetate, salts of ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid, ethylene or propylene glycols, glycerin, alkanolamines, polycarboxylic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acids, and aminoacids or mixture thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antimony(III) compound is added in liquid form.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the antimony(III) compound is added in form of powder.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antimony(III) compound is added in form of suspension of solid particles in a liquid carrier.

7. A method for reducing hexavalent chromium in Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said method consisting essentially of adding an antimony(III) compound as reducing agent in form of suspension of solid particles in water together with a viscosity modifying agent to said Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said antimony(III) compound being selected from the group consisting essentially of an antimony(III) oxide, an antimony(III) inorganic salt, an antimony(III) chelate compound, and an antimony(III) organometallic compound.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antimony(III) compound is added before, during or after grinding clinker and gypsum and/or other additives.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said antimony(III) compound is added to cement clinker in percentages in order to have an amount of antimony from 0.0008% to 0.08% by weight of cement for each ppm of Cr(IV) to be reduced.

10. A method for reducing hexavalent chromium in Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said method consisting essentially of adding an antimony(III) compound as reducing agent together with antioxidants, radical scavengers, grinding aids, cement performance enhancers or mixtures thereof to said Portland cements and hydraulic blended cements, said antimony(III) compound being added in water and said antimony(III) compound being selected from the group consisting essentially of an antimony(III) oxide, an antimony(III) inorganic salt, an antimony(III) chelate compound, and an antimony(III) organometallic compound.